Rod-packing.



Patented May I4, I91".

T. WALKER, sn.

BOD PACKING.

(Applicntiqn. fllad Apr. 15, 1898.)

(No Model.)

NITED STATES PATENT Fries.

THOMAS WALKER, SR., OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

ROD-PACKING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 674,325, dated May 14, 1901.

Application filed April 15, 1898. Serial No. 677,755. \No model.) Y

Be it known that I, THOMAS WALKER, Sr.,

a citizen of the United States, residing in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, have invented certain Improvements in Rod-Packing, of which the following is a specification.

One object of my invention is to provide a simple form of metallic packing for pistonrods, valve-rods, and the like; and a further object is to prevent the indraft of air through the packing when the same is used in connection with compound or condensing engines in which a partial vacuum is formed in the front end of the cylinder on each stroke. These objects I attain in the manner hereinafter set forth, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which-- Figure 1 is a sectional view of part of the stufling-box and piston-rod of an engine furnished with metallic packing-rings constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is a transverse section on the lineman, Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the rings; and Fig. 4 is a View illustrating the application of one feature of my invention to a packing such as that shown in my Patent No. 255,060, dated March 14, 1882.

Part of the cylinder-head of an engine is represented at 1, and part of the piston-rod at 2, the usual stuffing box casing being shown at 3. Into the outer end of this stuff: in g-box casing is fitted a flanged and recessed ring-holder 4, containing the packing-rings 5 and 6, the latter being retained in the holder by means of a cap 7 and both cap and holder being secured to the stuffing-box casing by means of the usual follower bolts and nuts orin any other appropriate manner. The ring 5 consists of two segments 9 and 10, one of considerably greater dimensions than the other, and this larger segment is recessed at each end, so as to form projecting fingers 11, whose inner faces are parallel with each other and are at right angles to the axial line of the rod, the outer sides of said fingers forming coniinuations of the curved outer sides of both segments. To these parallel inner faces of the fingers 11 of the segment 10 are snugly fitted the opposite ends of the smaller segments 9, so as to form a steam-tight joint and yet permit movement of said smaller segment 9 in respect to the segment 10 in a direction toward and from the axis of the rod. The

rin 6 sim 1 com rises two semicircularse ments 12 and 13 of rectangular cross-section, these segments being so disposed in respect to the segments of the ring 5 as to break joint therewith, and the segments of both rings are grooved externally for the reception of a coiled-wire spring 14, whereby said segments are pressed inwardly upon the rod, or, if desired, the segments of each ring may have a series of external grooves for the reception of a series of such coiled springs. The segments of the ring 6 are also recessed on the inner side for the reception of short coiled springs 15, which bear against the inner face of the ring-carrier 4, and thus serve to press the ring 6 against the ring 5 and the latter against the cap 7, so as to prevent any leakage of steam between the two rings or between the ring 5 and the cap, while at thesame time they serve to prevent the ring 5 from being forced out of contact with the cap 7 by the outward pressure of air when, as in the case .of condensing or compound engines, a partial vacuum is formed in the front end of the cylinder. Hence the inflow of 'airinto the cylinder under such circumstances is effectually prevented.

In Fig. 4 I have illustrated the application of this feature of my invention to a duplex packing of the character represented in my Patent No. 255,060, dated March 14, 1882, the purpose of the springs 15 being the same in this case as in the packing illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2.

It will be observed that the steam-tight joint between the segments 9 and 10 of the ring 5 is entirely independent of the external springpressure upon said segments, the latter being intended solely for the purpose of pressing the segments into contact with the rod, so that even if the spring should fail to perform its intended function the steam-tight joint between the parallel faces of the segments will not be impaired. While in most cases one pair of rings 5 and 6 are all that is necessary in order to provide for the proper packing of the rod, I may under some circumstances use two or more pairs of such rings disposed, for instance, as in the packing shown in Fig. 4.

Although I have shown continuous coiled springs for pressing the ring-segments toward the rod, it will be evident that elliptic or plate springs-such, for instance, as those shown in my Patent No. 255,060--may be used as well and may in some cases even be preferable, and the recessing of the segment 10 to form the fingers may also be omitted, if desired, the inner faces of the fingers 11 being carried straight out from the rounded inner face of the segment.

Having thus described my invention, 1 claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent- A metallic rod-packing comprising a pair of packing-rings disposed face to face, the forward ring consisting of greater and lesser segments, one fitting within the other, and the meeting faces of the segments being at right angles to the axial line of the rod, and the rear ring being composed of abutting semicircular segments, springs for pressing the segments of each ring against the rod, a casing for containing the rings, and springs let into recesses in the rear face of the rear ring and serving to press the two rings together and the forward face of the forward ring into contact with the forward portion of the easing, substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

THOMAS WALKER, SR.

Witnesses:

WILL. A. BARR, Jos. H. KLEIN. 

